IP Library Granted Patent US 12665325
Granted Patent B2
US 12665325 · App. 18/576,113 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Connection assembly, connection clamp and electronic device

Inventors: Kevin Berghahn (Blomberg, DE); Martin Gebhardt (Lage, DE); Heinz Reibke (Bad Salzuflen, DE); Michael Reineke (Steinheim, DE); Ralph Hoppmann (Bad Oeynhausen, DE); Viktor Bub (Paderborn, DE); Karsten Nolte (Lemgo, DE); Olaf Schyrocki (Bad Pyrmont, DE)
Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
H01R4/483H01R4/4811H01R4/4821
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12665325
App. No.
18/576,113
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A connection assembly for connecting an electrical conductor includes: a current bar; a clamping spring having a holding leg and a clamping leg, the conductor to be connected being clampable against a clamping section of the current bar by the clamping leg, with the clamping spring in a clamping position; an actuating element linearly guidable along an actuation direction and by which the clamping spring is transferrable from the clamping position into an open position, the actuating element being braced, in the open position, with the clamping spring and holding the clamping spring in the open position, as a bracing; and a rotatably-mounted lever element for acting upon the actuating element to actuate the actuating element.

Claims (39)

1 . A connection assembly for connecting an electrical conductor, comprising:

a current bar;

a clamping spring having a holding leg and a clamping leg, the conductor to be connected being clampable against a clamping section of the current bar by the clamping leg, with the clamping spring in a clamping position;

an actuating element linearly guidable along an actuation direction and by which the clamping spring is transferrable from the clamping position into an open position, the actuating element being braced, in the open position, with the clamping spring and holding the clamping spring in the open position; and

a rotatably-mounted lever element configured to act upon the actuating element to actuate the actuating element,

wherein, to form the bracing, the clamping spring, in the open position, is configured to apply to the actuating element a first pressure force acting counter to the actuation direction of the actuating element and a second pressure force acting in the actuation direction of the actuating element.

2 . The connection assembly of claim 1 , wherein, in the open position, the first pressure force is applied to the actuating element by the clamping leg of the clamping spring,

wherein the clamping leg has a clamping tab and at least one side tab arranged laterally to the clamping tab, and

wherein a clamping edge configured to clamp the conductor to be connected against the current bar in the clamping position is formed on a free end of the clamping tab, and the first pressure force is applied to the actuating element by the at least one side tab in the open position.

3 . The connection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuation direction of the actuating element is formed transversely to a conductor insertion direction of the conductor to be connected into a conductor connection space formed between the current bar and the clamping spring.

4 . The connection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lever element has an axis of rotation arranged off-center with respect to a length of the lever element.

5 . The connection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuating element has a connecting web extending transversely to the actuation direction, and

wherein the lever element is configured to roll on the connecting web during rotational movement of the lever element.

6 . An electronic device, comprising:

at least one connection assembly of claim 1 ; and/or

at least one connection clamp, comprising:

a housing; and

the at least one connection assembly arranged in the housing.

7 . The connection assembly of claim 1 , wherein a latching leg is arranged on the holding leg of the clamping spring and is configured to apply, in the open position, the second pressure force to the actuating element.

8 . The connection assembly of claim 7 , wherein the latching leg has a pressure surface, and

wherein, to transfer the clamping spring from the open position into the clamping position, the pressure surface is actuatable by the conductor to be connected, and the latching leg is configured to be brought out of engagement with the actuating element by actuation of the pressure surface.

9 . The connection assembly of claim 8 , wherein a holding contour configured to hold the latching leg on the actuating element in the open position of the clamping spring is formed on the actuating element.

10 . The connection assembly of claim 9 , wherein the actuating element has at least one actuating arm extending in the actuation direction, and

wherein the holding contour is formed on the at least one actuating arm.

11 . The connection assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a restoring spring configured to interact with the lever element.

12 . The connection assembly of claim 11 , wherein the restoring spring comprises a leg spring having a first leg and a second leg connected to the first leg by an arcuate section, and

wherein the first leg of the restoring spring engages, in a form-fit, in a receiving contour formed on the lever element.

13 . The connection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the current bar has a holding section formed at a distance from the clamping section, and

wherein the clamping spring is held on the holding section.

14 . The connection assembly of claim 13 , wherein the clamping spring has an opening into which the holding section of the current bar is inserted.

15 . The connection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the current bar has a guide section which extends in the actuation direction and on which the actuating element is guided.

16 . The connection assembly of claim 15 , wherein the guide section has a first guide bar and a second guide bar extending parallel to the first guide bar, and

wherein the actuating element is guided, at least in parts, between the first guide bar and the second guide bar.

17 . A connection clamp, comprising:

a housing; and

at least one connection assembly of claim 1 arranged in the housing.

18 . The connection clamp of claim 17 , wherein the lever element is mounted on the housing by an axis of rotation of the lever element.

19 . The connection clamp of claim 17 , wherein the housing comprises a two-part design.